Grocery Stores in Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Richmond: sale, 2009, to buy)

[Trevor92]

I've recently seen the rash of Bottom Dollar locations open in Hampton Roads to replace some Food Lions, and I'm just curious where people on here prefer to shop for groceries. I usually shop at Food Lions in the area, but I've been thinking about going to Bottom Dollar because I've heard it's cheaper, although they seem to have replaced Food Lions in places that people told me the stores weren't as clean. There's also Farm Fresh and Kroger which I've heard is more expensive but very nice stores. Anybody else have any impressions about grocery stores in the region or suggestions on the best one to shop at?

[jhrichmond]

When in Virginia Beach, I shop at Harris Teeter or Farm Fresh, though neither stacks up to Ukrops in Richmond. I like their pre-prepared fresh food and their deli's. I feel the quality is worth the extra $$.

[Mr Williamsburg]

Living in Williamsburg we shop at Wal Mart for non perishable groceries great prices if you don't want to buy the larger sizes that Costco has. We now have two Ukrops which have great Meat, produce and prepared foods. Farm Fresh for their specials on Meat, etc. In Newport News we go to Trader Joes a very unique specialty grocer great deals and unique offerings.(they are opening in Williamsburg in 2008/2009) Costco in Newport News for bulk buys on everything. The Fresh Market in Williamsburg for assorted items also.

[stacylee926]

My main shopping is done at Walmart, but when I buy meat I usually see what is on sale and go to Kroger or Food Lion.

My favorite store is Kroger, but Food Lion is the most convenient so I run there on weeknights.

I understand they are building a Harris Teeter in Portsmouth (Churchland) and will be anxious to see how that is.

[VABeachMom]

I live within 5 minutes of Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Farm Fresh. I almost always go to Kroger because they are cheaper (maybe not as cheap as Food Lion, but FL is farther away from me.) If I am at the Wal-mart, I will buy there, because they too keep prices low. Farm Fresh, in my opinion, has a better selection on many items than Kroger, but is a little more expensive. Harris Teeter is the most expensive. Kroger seems to be a favorite of seniors. My mom used to shop at HT, but stopped when the best deli employee quit because they refused to give him a raise. She thinks the other employees are slow and unconcerned about customer satisfaction. She now goes to kroger and FF.

[jerlap]

Bottom Dollar is good for the weekly specials, but be sure to bring your own bags, they charge extra...

[WilliamsburgMom]

Bleech- I think the produce department in the Williamsburg Ukrops stores is awful, Farm Fresh on Merrimac Trail has them beat. As for the Fresh Market on Jamestown Road - they are very expensive in everything and the small store makes for a frustrating shop.

I agree that for non-perishable items the Walmart in Williamsburg is fine --it's a dirty store but then you're not eating from their floors I guess.

[Wi_Girl]

I shop at Walmart when we do our big grocery shopping days and Food Lion if I need to pick something up real quick. I find Harris Teeter to be way overpriced, especially when I went there and it was like $5 for a very small bag of grapes. We go to Costco for big bulk items.

[Trevor92]

Originally Posted by jerlap

Bottom Dollar is good for the weekly specials, but be sure to bring your own bags, they charge extra...

You know, now that I've been to Bottom Dollar several times, the more I look and compare the prices, I'm really starting to wander if Bottom Dollar is that much cheaper than Food Lion. It seems like there are often MVP deals at F-L, especially on cereals, frozen foods, and soft drinks, that are individually much better deals than Bottom Dollar. Although I was discouraged to see milk top $5/gallon at Food Lion last weekend. It just seems like so much work to save a buck stop by Bottom Dollar for the bulk of shopping, then Food-Lion for the MVP deals, and then somewhere else for meat (I just never trusted Food Lion after that 20/20 or Nightline investigation back in the 90's). For a big shopping day, I'm starting to think that giving into Wal-Mart may be the easiest and cheapest thing to do. It's a little farther away but I'm starting to think it may be worth it.

[Carter876]

Originally Posted by Trevor92

You know, now that I've been to Bottom Dollar several times, the more I look and compare the prices, I'm really starting to wander if Bottom Dollar is that much cheaper than Food Lion. It seems like there are often MVP deals at F-L, especially on cereals, frozen foods, and soft drinks, that are individually much better deals than Bottom Dollar. Although I was discouraged to see milk top $5/gallon at Food Lion last weekend. It just seems like so much work to save a buck stop by Bottom Dollar for the bulk of shopping, then Food-Lion for the MVP deals, and then somewhere else for meat (I just never trusted Food Lion after that 20/20 or Nightline investigation back in the 90's). For a big shopping day, I'm starting to think that giving into Wal-Mart may be the easiest and cheapest thing to do. It's a little farther away but I'm starting to think it may be worth it.

Bottom Dollar is not much cheaper than Food Lion. Some items are the same price and some are just a few cents cheaper than Food Lion. They have a few items on sale each week just to get people in their stores. Also they will lure customers by giving good prices on items if you make at least a $20 purchase....for example 10 cents cake mix if you make at least $20 in purchases. They took alot of the inventory and quality away. I just go to Wal-Mart because they have the lowest prices and all stores pretty much are the same (well the Va Beach ones are much better managed). Also if you looking to be impressed with a clean store, wide variety, high quality and nice appearance...then you may not want to go to Bottom Dollar. The new renovated Food Lions that stayed Food Lions are nice. I haven't been to a Bloom yet because there isn't one in my city. Personally, I like variety and some areas in my city there are 2 to 4 grocery stores (Food Lion, Wal-Mart, Kroger and Farm Fresh) in one area which I think is great to have a choice.